§1What this business is
A portable jib crane is a small lifting machine on wheels, used in engineering workshops, godowns and warehouses. The body is cut from seamless pipe or structural steel, machined on a shaper, milling machine and drill, and welded. Forged steel wheels, the chain pulley block and the hook are bought ready and fitted; the crane is then painted. The profile covers cranes of ½ to 5 tonne capacity made to IS 4573-1968 and IS 807-1976.
Capacity: 250 jib cranes of different capacities a year, worth ₹75 L at ₹30,000 each (single shift, 300 working days).
§2Is it right for you?
Who it is for
A fabricator or mechanical engineer who already runs a welding and machining shop and can sell to factories and godowns.
Who it is not for
Someone who wants fast-moving goods with daily sales.
Advantages
- Ordinary workshop machines are enough — lathe, milling machine, shaper, drill and welding set
- Wheels, chain pulley block and hook can be bought ready
- The profile says few units make this product, so competition is low
- The shed can be rented
Drawbacks
- A crane is bought once and lasts for years, so repeat orders are slow
- Four salesmen are needed to find buyers
- A lifting machine must meet BIS dimensions and load tests
- Up to 5 years are allowed to reach full capacity
Skills you need
- Structural welding and fabrication
- Lathe, shaper and milling work
- Reading load and dimension standards
- Selling to factories and warehouses
Why difficulty 3/5: Standard machining and welding, but a lifting machine must be safe and sales take effort.
§3Market
Who buys
- Engineering workshops
- Godowns and warehouses
- Factories that lift and move material often
How it sells
- Direct sales through the unit’s own salesmen
- Industrial machinery dealers
Good to know
- The profile says very few units in its region make jib cranes.
- Selling price in the profile: ₹30,000 a crane.
§4Raw material & machinery
| Item | Qty | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Lathe machine, 1000 mm, with 3 HP motor | 2 | ₹4,00,000 |
| Universal milling machine, 1 m x 250 mm table, 5 HP motor | 1 | ₹3,50,000 |
| Shaping machine, 24 inch stroke, 5 HP motor | 1 | ₹1,75,000 |
| Power hacksaw, 12 inch, 2 HP motor | 1 | ₹75,000 |
| Pillar drill, ¾ inch capacity, 1 HP motor | 1 | ₹50,000 |
| Welding transformer, 300 A, with cable and accessories | 1 | ₹35,000 |
| Air compressor with spray gun, 1 HP motor | 1 | ₹35,000 |
| Bench grinder, 8 inch, ½ HP motor | 1 | ₹15,000 |
| Testing and inspection equipment | — | ₹1,00,000 |
| Jigs and fixtures | — | ₹1,00,000 |
From: DC-MSME project profile — Portable Jib Crane (2009)
- Assorted MS sheets, rods, angles and channels1 tonne a month at ₹35,000 a tonne
- Heavy-gauge MS pipes250 metres a month at ₹300 a metre
- Wheels, chain, gears and sprocketsbought ready, ₹1,50,000 a month
- Hardware and paint₹25,000 a month
From: DC-MSME project profile — Portable Jib Crane (2009)
§5Licences & registration
- Udyam registration
- GST registration
- Factory licence where the worker and power limits apply
- Trade licence from the local body
- BIS standards IS 4573 and IS 807 to follow for design and testing
Start it in your state
Pick your state: today’s cost, central + state subsidy, raw material, land and help, on one page.
§6Schemes & subsidies
At ₹29.97 L the project is within the PMEGP ceiling of ₹50 lakh for manufacturing. CGTMSE can cover the bank loan without collateral. It is above the MUDRA limit of ₹20 lakh.
§7Money
How the investment is worked out: Fixed capital ₹15.75 L (machines ₹11.35 L, testing and inspection equipment ₹1.00 L, power connection ₹0.50 L, electrification and installation ₹1.135 L, jigs and fixtures ₹1.00 L, office equipment ₹0.50 L, pre-operative ₹0.25 L) + working capital for 3 months ₹14.22 L = ₹29.97 L. Shed is rented.
Working capital: Working capital for 3 months is ₹14.22 L. Monthly running cost is ₹4.74 L: raw material ₹2.85 L, salaries ₹1.08 L, utilities ₹0.30 L and other expenses ₹0.51 L.
Prices from 2009 — machinery costs will be higher now.
§8Export potential
Confirm the HS code in the DGFT ITC(HS) lookup before you export
Export council / board: EEPC India
- The profile sees a market in developing countries as well as in India.
§9Risks — where people fail
- A crane failing under load and injuring a worker
- Slow sales, because buyers do not replace cranes often
- Steel pipe and section prices rising
- Payment delays from industrial buyers
§1030 / 60 / 90-day plan
A general plan that applies to any business. A plan for this business will be added after research.
- Days 1–30: Visit a working portable jib crane manufacturing unit, ask 10 buyers about price and quantity, and get quotations from 3 suppliers.
- Days 31–60: Udyam and the licences you need (Udyam registration, GST registration), a project report (DPR), and the scheme or loan file.
- Days 61–90: Space and machines, trial production, and first deliveries to 10 customers.
§11Who to connect with
§12Watch
There is no episode on this business yet. Shows are coming soon on the Podcast page.
Want to start Portable Jib Crane Manufacturing?
DPR, loan file or registration — ask us on WhatsApp.
¶Sources
Data review: 6 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Report it. For information only — not legal or financial advice.